COUNTRY PROFILE: KENYA

March 2005

COUNTRY

Formal Name: Republic of Kenya.

Short Form: Kenya.

Term for Citizen(s): Kenyan(s).

Capital: Nairobi.

Major Cities: The country’s largest cites are Nairobi, the capital and chief manufacturing center; Mombasa, the principal seaport; and Kisumu, the chief port on Lake Victoria. Smaller cities include Nakuru, a commercial and manufacturing center in the Eastern Rift Valley; and Eldoret, an industrial center in western Kenya. The population of cities, according to the 1999 census, was Nairobi – 1,346,000; Mombasa – 465,000; Kisumu – 185,000; Nakuru – 163,000; and Eldoret – 105,000.

Independence: December 12, 1963, from the United Kingdom.

Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1); Good Friday (movable date in March or April); Easter Monday (movable date in March or April); Labor Day (May 1); Madaraka Day, which celebrates self-government (June 1); Moi Day (October 10); Kenyatta Forces Day (October 20); Eid al Fitr (movable date according to the Islamic calendar); Jamhuri/Independence Day (December 12); Christmas Day (December 25); and Boxing Day (December 26).

Flag:

Kenya’s flag features three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red,

and green; the red band is edged in white. Centered on the flag is a large

warrior’s shield covering crossed spears.